Thursday, April 26, 2012

On Wednesday, April 25, 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case Arizona v. United States. It was my privilege to be present for the entire time of the oral arguments.

The Federal government was suing the State of Arizona because the Federal government reads the U.S. Constitution as giving full authority and competence on immigration issues to the Federal government, not the individual States.

U.S. Supreme Court, Washington, D.C., April 25, 2012

The Justices did not seem to be persuaded that one part of the Arizona law violated Federal law: the inquiry about immigration status after a person has been stopped for another violation of the law, and when there is "reasonable suspicion" that the person might not have legal residency. It would seem that this section could survive.

However, questions by the Justices were presuming a quick check with the Federal data bases would be carried out, and that persons would not be held longer than for the original reason for the stop.

The Justices had far more serious questions about other sections of the Arizona law, especially those sections which make it a crime for an undocumented person to seek employment, to fail to register, or to take employment. One will just have to wait until the Court decision to learn its scope and application for Arizona and for other States.

We must keep in mind that there are other challenges to Arizona's S.B. 1070 in the Federal courts--not on the grounds of the Federal government preempting State involvement in immigration issues, but rather, the great danger of ethnic and racial profiling because of the "reasonable suspicion" of not having legal residential status language. Since the vast majority of people who will be questioned about their immigration status are dark-skinned or Hispanic, one can just imagine who will be checked.

Chief Justice John Roberts was well aware of this fact and that those issues may eventually come to the Court. When Solicitor General Donald Verrilli began his oral argument, Chief Justice Roberts intervened at once:

"Before you get into what the case is about, I'd like to clear up at the outset what it's not about. No part of your argument has to do with racial or ethnic profiling, does it? I saw none of that in your brief."

Verrelli responded: "That's correct."

This issue, however, is surely a major problem with the Arizona law. Who else will law enforcement officers inquire about their legal residency status if not people of color, those who don't speak English well, and Hispanics?

But the Justices cannot be oblivious to the implications and practical effects of the Arizona law. In my opinion, they simply must analyze the implications on individuals and their families when they render their final decision.

The Catholic Church will continue to stand with all of our immigrant brothers and sisters, regardless of legal residency, and will continue our efforts to extend earned paths to legal residency for all categories of these people.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

He received all of the Bishops from the Province of Los Angeles in his private study, and he was most welcoming. We were permitted to bring the five priests from Los Angeles—one working in the Vatican, Msgr. Larry Spiteri; and four doing graduate studies in Rome—Father Thinh Pham, Father Swalomir Szkredka, Father John Montejano, and Father Marco Durazo. They each met the Pope, had a photo taken, and then left the study.
Archbishop José Gomez introduced the Bishops of the Province, and each of us had a few minutes to focus on one aspect of our ministry in California and in our Archdiocese. The various types of ministry were covered by individual Bishops.

My report to the Holy Father centered on the issue of immigration and the current phenomenon of world-wide migration. Some 212 million people are on the move around the world, most of them fleeing various threats and deprivations: wars, terrorism, famine, political unrest, and the search for a place of peace and opportunity for their families.

(Photo: CNS/L'Osservatore Romano) April 20, 2012

I pointed out to the Holy Father that the last major Papal pronouncement on immigration was the Apostolic Constitution by Pope Pius XII, Exsul Familia, issued August 1, 1952—some 60 years ago. That document was issued following the Second World War and while the world was facing enormous displacement of peoples caused by that war.

I suggested to the Pope that it would be very opportune if he would consider issuing a new Papal document on the challenges facing today’s migrants around the world, and on the Church’s response to this phenomenon in our own time. He was most attentive, and asked me directly, “Do you have a proposal”? Fortunately, I had prepared a letter to him on this very issue and gave it to his secretary at our meeting.

I now plan to ask Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the President of the U.S. Bishops Conference, and Archbishop José Gomez, Chairman of the Committee on Migration and Refugees, to add their positive encouragement to our Holy Father as well.

Given the reality of so many immigrants in our country, and the Church’s continuing efforts to offer them various pastoral and spiritual services, it would be truly opportune to have our Holy Father give us an updated document on this most important pastoral work of our Church.

The Church’s deep concern for peoples on the move and for immigrants is a Gospel imperative for us in Jesus’ own words: “For I was a stranger, and you welcomed me”. (Matthew 25:35)

I am writing this blog post while flying home to Los Angeles, having been renewed and refreshed through our Masses at the four major Basilicas of Rome, through our personal time with the Successor of Peter, Pope Benedict, and through our conversations with so many heads of Vatican Offices.

May Saints Peter and Paul continue to inspire our Church and all of the Dioceses of our Region in the person of Jesus and with the fervor of the Holy Spirit !

Friday, April 13, 2012

The Bishopsof the ProvincesofLosAngelesand San Francisco begintheir Ad Liminavisit in Rome on April 15.

Everyfiveyears all Bishops are requiredtoRometoprayat the tombsofSt. PeterandofSt. Paul, tomeetwith the Pope, andtovisitwith the majorofficesof the HolySee. The name, Ad Limina, comesfrom the Latinexpression "Ad LiminaApostolorum," or, "To the Doorpostsof the Apostles."

Each day wewill celebrate Mass in oneof the fourmajorBasilicasofRome: St. Peter's, St. Paul's Outside the Walls, St. JohnLateran, andSt. MaryMajor. A visitwith Pope Benedict XVI ispartof the visit.

Althoughnow the retiredArchbishopofLosAngeles, the five-yearReportto the HolySeecovers the time period up toDecember 31, 2010. Duringthoseyears I servedas the activeArchbishopofLosAngeles, andtherefore, amresponsiblefor the Report.

Duringthesewonderfuldays in Rome, yourBishopswill be prayingfor all ofyou, the faithfulPeopleofGod in ourvariousArchdiocesesandDioceses.

AsofWednesdayevening, wehave so far visited the followingofficesof the HolySee: the Supreme Tribunalof the ApostolicSignatura [the Supreme Courtfor the Church], the PontificalCouncilfor the Family, the CongregationforBishops, the Congregationfor the Doctrineof the Faith, the CongregationforClergy, the CongregationforCatholicEducation, the Congregationfor Divine Worship, and the PontificalCouncilforPromoting New Evangelization.

Ateachofficialvisitwediscuss in generalourfive-yearReports, andraise up issuesfordiscussion. The atmosphereanddialogue are faith-filled, andwe are abletoreceivehelpfulguidance in responsetoourquestions.

This Ad Liminavisitbroughtusto the officesof a newentityof the HolySee--the PontificalCouncilforPromoting New Evangelization. Recallthat Pope JohnPaul II hadfrequentlymentioned a "newevangelization" in whicheachofuswoulddeepenour personal encounterwithJesusChrist, shareourfaithjourneys, andbecome a more welcomingChurch.

With some 22 millioninactiveCatholicsacrossourcountry, weneedto be proactive in reaching out tothemand in invitingthem "home" toourFaithCommunityofCatholics.

A special SynodofBishops on the New EvangelizationwilltakeplacebeginningthiscomingOctober, aswellas the launchingof The YearofFaithfor the Churchworld-wide. Manynewpastoralinitiativeswill be suggestedthisyearforimplementationat the Diocesanandparishlevels.

Initiativeswill be takentoenliven the faith-livesofourCatholicpeople, andto help thembring the valuesandimperativesofJesusChrist in the Gospelstoourdailylives. Thisisanexcitingnewchapter in the lifeof the Church, and I look forwardwithgreateagernesstoournewevangelizationefforts.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has proposed a more streamlined process to assist petitioners for legal residency in a more streamlined fashion.

Currently, immediate relatives of U.S. citizens who have accrued a certain period of unlawful presence in the United States are barred from returning to the U.S. for as long as 3 or 10 years if they leave the country.

Immediate relatives can obtain a waiver of the unlawful presence bar if they show that a U.S. citizen spouse or parent will experience extreme hardship if they are required to remain outside the U.S. But in order to obtain the waiver, these individuals must depart the U.S. and wait abroad while the waiver is processed.

As a result, long years of separation keep families divided waiting while the various government processes churn on slowly. This is particularly difficult when very young or very old members of the family are involved in the process.

Under the new proposed process, immediate relatives of U.S. citizens who would need a waiver of unlawful presence in order to obtain an immigrant visa could file a new form form before leaving the U.S. to obtain an immigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad.

All individuals eligible for this streamlined process are still required to depart the U.S. and must meet all legal requirements for issuance of an immigrant visa and admission to the U.S.

Those who claim that this new process is some type of new "amnesty" are plain wrong. This new process is intended to hasten the steps for those family members who are clearly eligible for more rapid consideration of their petition. None of the steps in the process are being waived; rather, all of the elements are moved forward in a more certain way.

I support this new Rule and pray that after the 60 days for public comment it will be in effect.

Some estimates are that one million of the current 11 million unauthorized immigrants may be able to secure a more rapid path to legal residency.

This new process will help bring a large number of our residents out of the shadows and to give them a new future in our midst.

Post-Sacrament Evangelization

This Power Point presentation on "Post-Sacrament Evangelization" was given by Cardinal Roger Mahony at the 2014 Religious Education Congress. You are free to use it any way that helps evangelize our people following the reception of the Sacraments.

About Cardinal Mahony Blogs L.A.

Cardinal Roger Mahony Blogs L.A. is the official blog of the Archbishop Emeritus of Los Angeles, Cardinal Roger M. Mahony. Cardinal Mahony is the fourth and recently retired Archbishop of Los Angeles. Born in Hollywood, he is the first native Angeleno to be created Cardinal.

CIVIC INVOLVEMENT: Cardinal Mahony has served on a number of committees of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, including those on Pro-Life Activities, and Migration & Refugees. He was a member of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace (1984-1989) and the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants (1986-1991); he is presently a member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications (1989-2911), the Congregation for Eastern Churches (2009-2013), and on the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See (2000 to 2013. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of The Catholic University of America.